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the king's credit. I wish only to protect myself and my wife. I could not do other and, look you, if I live through the daywhich I expect, for I have taken this and that precautionno more harm will be done than that men will think I have a suspicious mind." |
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"No more harm?" Salisbury repeated blankly. "Do you think John will love you after this?" |
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To that, Ian made no reply. He picked up his knife again, looked at the roast haunch, and then laid the knife aside as if his appetite was gone. |
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"I see," Salisbury said. "If you believe what you do, how can you be faithful?" |
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"The same way you love. There is the small matter of my honor also. I have given my oath, and I will stand by it as Pembroke stands by his," Ian said coldly. |
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"I beg your pardon!" Salisbury exclaimed, rising so suddenly that the chair crashed backward and the goblet he had been holding tipped, pouring wine over the table. |
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"My lord," Alinor cried, hurrying over to him and laying a hand on his arm. "Ian did not mean that." |
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"Mean what?" Ian said, looking amazedly from the dripping wine to Salisbury's white face. "William, for God's sake, what did I say?" |
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"Itit sounded as if you implied that Lord Salisbury was a part of" Alinor's voice faltered away. |
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"I did not mean that nor, indeed, any offense to you, William. I meant that love and honor do not always have a perfect recompense or, for that matter, a worthy object. Many men love unworthy women and cling to that love even when they know they have been betrayed. Many men make idiotic, harmful vows and fulfill them to their own and other's harmlook at King Richard and that stupid Crusade. Sit down, William." |
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Salisbury righted the chair. Alinor picked up the goblet and refilled it, more to have something to do than because she expected Salisbury to drink. When |
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